Used for full-scale Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT), the HVS simulates heavy traffic loads on instrumented pavement test sections to produce decades’ worth of performance data in weeks.
The Dynatest Heavy Vehicle Simulator is a widely used full-scale Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) device. By applying continuous, controlled wheel loads, the HVS compresses decades of traffic wear into just months or weeks, allowing engineers to evaluate long-term pavement durability with unprecedented speed.
Designed for leading research agencies, universities, and highway authorities worldwide, the HVS replicates real-life heavy vehicle loads under controlled conditions. This provides a safe, full-scale testing environment to evaluate new asphalt mixes, recycled materials, and innovative pavement designs with empirical data before they are implemented in the field. The result is reliable evidence to support pavement innovation, sustainability, and risk‑free design validation.
You need it when:
Accelerated material innovation: Validating the long-term performance of sustainable, recycled, or novel pavement materials before full-scale field trials, by simulating years of heavy traffic in a compressed timeframe.
Empirical risk mitigation: Testing new pavement designs to failure in a controlled environment to confirm their durability and minimize the risk of premature field failure, ensuring safe adoption of innovative designs in public infrastructure.
Advanced pavement research: Conducting high-control pavement fatigue and rutting studies with programmable loading and conditions (e.g. uni- or bi-directional wheel passes, adjustable loads), to generate critical data for predictive pavement models and support faster infrastructure innovation.
Excerpt: Used for full-scale Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT), the HVS simulates heavy traffic loads on instrumented pavement test sections to produce decades’ worth of performance data in weeks.
The Heavy Vehicle Simulator (HVS) is an accelerated, full-scale loading facility that accelerates pavement failure by simulating many years of traffic loading in a few months. This allows an agency to quickly evaluate new materials, pavement designs, and construction techniques. The output from the HVS can be used to develop and improve material modeling, allowing for improvements in design and maintenance strategies. The HVS is a proven technology, in constant development over the last 35 years. With over 21 units functioning worldwide, a large and scientifically valuable knowledge base developed by the HVS users is shared with other HVS users through the HVS International Alliance (HVSIA). Additionally, CSIR South Africa contains a significant database along with expertise, which it provides in association with Dynatest.
The HVS is a mobile device, enabling it to be transported to test multiple real sites at full scale
Testing on construction sites allows testing of local conditions and subgrade material
Extendable beam option gives larger testing area and higher test speeds
10,000 passes unidirectional and 20,000 passes bi-directional per 24 hours
Automatic/programmable wander over a width of 0.9m (35.4 inches)
Testing speed up to 12.8 km/h (8mph)
The HVS Mark VI is capable of applying wheel loads to 200 kN (45 kips)
The larger HVS Mark VI-A is capable of simulating aircraft wheel loads of up to 440 kN (100 kips)
For existing and new owners of the Heavy Vehicle Simulator (HVS) upgarde with the Dynatest 6D LiDAR System designed to increase efficiency and enhance data precision.
LiDAR is an acronym for Light Detection and Ranging.
Enhanced User Experience:
The Dynatets LiDAR system is designed for an enhanced user experience, offering multiple interfaces for operation, including a touchscreen, desktop application, and API. By reducing manual effort, the Dynatest LiDAR system allows you to focus on testing while it seamlessly handles data collection.
Flexible installation options to fit your needs:
The Dynatest LiDAR System can be mounted directly on your HVS, seamlessly integrating with the Test Wheel Carriage for continuous monitoring. Alternatively, the Dynatest LiDAR System can operate in stand-alone mode, allowing you to scan pavement surfaces independently by simply moving the HVS aside.
By upgrading your HVS with the Dynatest LiDAR System, you will maximize your testing capacity, improve data quality, and streamline pavement evaluation.
Why should you upgrade to the LiDAR System?
Ready to take your HVS to the next level with the Dynatest LiDAR System?
Get in touch for a quote and more details
Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) evaluates pavement performance and durability in months instead of years. It simulates long-term wear by subjecting pavement sections to controlled loads and environmental conditions.
Heavy vehicle simulators replicate the impact of thousands or millions of vehicles, allowing researchers to assess rutting, cracking, and surface roughness.
APT helps optimize pavement materials, designs, and maintenance strategies by identifying potential issues early and improving long-term performance under heavy traffic, extreme temperatures, and moisture exposure.
APT is commonly used in pavement research and development, allowing researchers to evaluate new pavement materials and designs, and to optimize pavement maintenance and repair strategies. It can also be used to assess the performance of pavement, to identify potential problems before they become severe, and to develop strategies for extending the life of pavement.
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